#INeLearn Archive
The #INeLearn hashtag is used for both asynchronous sharing and synchronous conversations. Include #INeLearn in your tweets if you want to share resources or questions with Indiana educators and school leaders. Asynchronously, the #INeLearn hashtag provides educators across the state of Indiana a central space for sharing. On Thursday evenings beginning at 8 CST/9 EST when you use the #INeLearn hashtag, you are joining a live conversation--the #INeLearn Twitter Chat. For one hour, we interact in real time having a virtual discussion.
Thursday August 25, 2016 9:00 PM EDT
Welcome to tonight’s chat! and I will be your moderators as we begin a new series devoted to content areas!
Tonight’s focus we will target Literacy skills in the digital age classroom. We are joined by DOE specialist Melanie Martz!
Let’s start with intros! Tell us where you’re from and what grade/subject area you teach!
Tiffany here from Scottsburg, IN! I teach 6th gr. Digital Literacy!
Pam from MSD of Mt. Vernon. I'm the eLearning Coach!
Director of Technology in Whitestown (suburban )
Katie from East Washington in So. Indiana. My tweets for the next hour are devoted to the chat!
Brittany from Scottsburg here to help moderate tonight! Excited to talk literacy!
I'm a director of technology and integration
First question is coming up! We will use the Q1, R1 format. Be sure to use the hashtag .
Melanie the Secondary Lit specialist at the IDOE, teaching exp in ELA in Middle school; chatting from Indianapolis!
Michelle with the Office of eLearning now, but in my first life I was an English teachers
Lucas from Bedford, IN. Innovative Learning Specialist
Q1 In your opinion, has literacy been redefined in the digital classroom? Support your answer w/ an example.
R1 I believe so. Ex: My son has a much broader selection of material than I could've dreamed having when I was his age!
Thanks! I work hard to live up to it everyday!
R1: it needs to be. Reading online is different than offline. Ss need skills some of us take for granted https://t.co/NypsNL1kcV
Q1 In your opinion, has literacy been redefined in the digital classroom? Support your answer w/ an example.
R1: I believe it has been. Kids have so many more resources at their finger tips.
R1 Let's just agree the digital classroom has great potential to redefine literacy
Yes! Should it or has it? Both. https://t.co/qjErQYm0jb
R1 Let's just agree the digital classroom has great potential to redefine literacy
The power lies w/in us to allow it to redefine our Ss literacy experiences! https://t.co/0blAeQSN5C
R1 Let's just agree the digital classroom has great potential to redefine literacy
I agree, and the term literacy can certainly take on new meanings. https://t.co/jipoCebuOC
R1 Let's just agree the digital classroom has great potential to redefine literacy
R1 Yes and no. Students still practice literacy everyday, but as adults we are sometimes too judgmental on how they 'practice'
Agree! I now teach a whole course devoted to Digital Literacy. It's incredible!
R1 Literacy has been refining itself over the last 2 decades; if you haven't acknowledged that digital/1:1 or not there's a prob
R1 Absolutely! Some digital text needs to be read by students with a much more critical eye (i.e. wikipedia)
R1: Not sure if literacy has been redefined, access to literacy is very different, but don't think the skills needed are different
R1: ABSOLUTELY! I use creation tools often in my literacy block! These tools have changed the way my kids make connections!
Follow-up to R1, yes because my goodness they options at their literal fingertips are astronomically AWESOME
Teaching Ss to analyze text for quality features is incredibly important! https://t.co/537qKyg1Ze
R1 Absolutely! Some digital text needs to be read by students with a much more critical eye (i.e. wikipedia)
agree! They can't practice the way we do or did. They need support and differentiation for the times
I like that....the "access" has been redefined
that and Disciplinary literacy. Experts and professionals don't practice in workbooks & read from textbooks
We can't just start at the beginning of the basal and workbook anymore. That doesn't cut it, but it really never did!
Haven't we always taught Ss to look critically at what they read, power comes in being able to analyze new info
Absolutely, ! https://t.co/9US7Ya6Xs9
R1 Let's just agree the digital classroom has great potential to redefine literacy
actually I would trust Wikipedia more than the news websites...
Yes! Literacy and digital literacy are really the same thing!
I think you need different skills for all types: online, offline, fiction, nonfiction, subject areas, even interests
Q2 What unique challenges arise in your digital classroom concerning literacy and how do you overcome them?
Yes!! Agree! It never worked.
. There's a great conversation going on in the Twitter chat 2nite. Follow at
And visual literacy. Making sense of what you see https://t.co/Ag8j2paSbX
Yes! Literacy and digital literacy are really the same thing!
R2 As a 6th teacher, the literacy gap has widened considerably for some Ss. Digital resources allow for personalized learning.
Yes! Come join us! https://t.co/w4xcHi5lks
. There's a great conversation going on in the Twitter chat 2nite. Follow at
R2: Discerning the credibility of authors. We investigate sources, websites, and urls.
R2 Maybe not unique, but digital textbook curation, the over-arching standardized test elephant in the classroom & student skills
Seymour HS 9-12 Engineering and Technology.
R2: Ss come with different levels, background knowledge. Using sites like and to DI levels/interest
I will be following along tonight. Checking in from West Lafayette!
This is the nitty gritty of literacy. We all need a dose of this! https://t.co/mRakeAGCe4
R2: Discerning the credibility of authors. We investigate sources, websites, and urls.
R2: Must spend more time on reliability of sources in research - if not you might buy dehydrated water https://t.co/aNR6xLha90
R2 and that ever-sensitive battle between the feel of a book book in your hands versus a digital interface...
This is one I hear frequently amongst colleagues. We mix it up in our district. https://t.co/vFkyU2tCEU
R2 and that ever-sensitive battle between the feel of a book book in your hands versus a digital interface...
Looking at Do you have any experience with this one?
R2 We must think more and more that we are not digital literacy agents, but rather, digital quality detectives
R2: not really a unique obstacle, but differing reading levels & scheme. I like ReadWorks & leveled close reading passages on TpT
I love & had a lot of success using it with middle school students!
R2: I feel being able to evaluate viable resources is a challenge for Ss. It is also important for
Q3 How do we best support our special learning communities that require intervention in reading skills? Share tools, tips, tricks!
I will admit, as much as I do digitally -- I still prefer the book in my hands...
I'll never give up my books. That smell... knows what I'm talkin' 'bout
Check out tonight's chat for some great convo on .
R2 mentioned credibility of source (ex wikis) More access means more to critique, analyze, & evaluate
I love that...Digital Quality Detectives...DQDs
R2: life with 1:1 tech makes differentiation so much easier. When there's a will there's a way!
A1. Literacy is literacy. When tech is used correctly literacy is key to critical thinking. https://t.co/PswVDkif9w
Q1 In your opinion, has literacy been redefined in the digital classroom? Support your answer w/ an example.
R2 Rememberng that literacy is the goal whether it's "digital" or not! We just have to keep ourselves "honest"
seriously. I will forever be a librarian in my ❤️ & I have students that swore by REAL books!
Is it possible to just enjoy reading online? https://t.co/YMCNRmvKr1
R2 We must think more and more that we are not digital literacy agents, but rather, digital quality detectives
has great resources for this! https://t.co/ny8xIUgBIa
R2: I feel being able to evaluate viable resources is a challenge for Ss. It is also important for
DQDs...I'll be designing badges!
I'm right there with you!
R2 the biggest issue I've seen is learning how to manage simultaneous streams of information w/out overload/distraction
R3: google voice to text and text to speech. I can't share from my phone and I'm on the road!
Sorry, computer crashed right before Q3!
R3 I think we have to remember the human element. These Ss need our interaction. Can't just be a program. https://t.co/FJ3U3Vz3aa
Q3 How do we best support our special learning communities that require intervention in reading skills? Share tools, tips, tricks!
R3: Voice to text or text to voice can be a great way to help Ss write or have their writing read back to them
I sure hope so, ! I do it all the time.
I think blocking it out comes with practice
R3 Programs have a place and purpose, but nothing will ever replace what Ts do with their Ss. (part 1)
R2 As a teacher with so many digital resources, I had a hard time choosing what to use and share with my students
We always must remember to not fall into the "tech for tech's sake" trap! Best practices are key! https://t.co/pxnwXTzu6r
R2 Rememberng that literacy is the goal whether it's "digital" or not! We just have to keep ourselves "honest"
R3.1 Nothing makes me more upset as a T than to see Ss being put on a program for interventions! Use the tech effectively!
interesting thought... Obvs love me some Twitter & news online but to relax? Offline reading
R3 Whatever the reading source and whatever the population, the post-reading convo can prove to be insightful and inspiring
We must constantly consider how we are modeling the way we connect with and explore quality resources. https://t.co/MEP7gpPjBd
R2 We must think more and more that we are not digital literacy agents, but rather, digital quality detectives
R3: Tech should be a support for effective classroom instruction..not a replacement.
R3 Educators nee to ditch the digital immigrant visa and learn what tools exist-there are so many extensions to support readers
Couldn't agree more. always about people, never programs -- I will take a great T over a great program any day!!
I read Twitter/Facebook for fun, but now that I think about it, I am critical thinking. And it's fun!
R3 A teacher being the "recorder" for a student's oral stream of consciousness to give him/her a starting point for writing
Yes! It can be overwhelming when delving into new resources. Lean on each other for recommendations. https://t.co/AKB0uxipYP
R2 As a teacher with so many digital resources, I had a hard time choosing what to use and share with my students
Always start with a great lesson and see how tech can enhance it, not the other way around https://t.co/37IsngiKkg
R3: Tech should be a support for effective classroom instruction..not a replacement.
R3: Give students multiple ways to make their learning visible
I keep losing service. Also, Kentucky is the longest state ever
This is really good. The hardest part is always starting. This gives them something to run with https://t.co/PZuQkz7fNY
R3 A teacher being the "recorder" for a student's oral stream of consciousness to give him/her a starting point for writing
I LOVE and to help with online annotations and saving online articles https://t.co/NWUPpycsAi
R3 Educators nee to ditch the digital immigrant visa and learn what tools exist-there are so many extensions to support readers
Maybe float a handful by them and see what they gravitate to? If they are excited, the battle is half won https://t.co/c2diAwc43o
Yes! It can be overwhelming when delving into new resources. Lean on each other for recommendations. https://t.co/AKB0uxipYP
R2 As a teacher with so many digital resources, I had a hard time choosing what to use and share with my students
Yes! It's about using the right tools for the right teachable moments!
always start with Students. 😊
I have read about it but have not used it yet. And you?
I love Diigo, too! I wish I would have discovered it when I was in college...amazing tool for students
I'm usually not this argumentative. I'm really hungry and its past my bedtime
I'm a Diigo fan. It can give the teacher a peek into the student's reading process & chance to redirect https://t.co/Nm2ztgZK1q
I LOVE and to help with online annotations and saving online articles https://t.co/NWUPpycsAi
R3 Educators nee to ditch the digital immigrant visa and learn what tools exist-there are so many extensions to support readers
It is great for online research as well!
I used it with my students back in 2007-2009-invaluable resource
Q4 Dig. portfolios have become a popular tool in literacy classrooms. What can Ss, Ps, & Ts learn about Ss growth from these?
. I'm a big fan of but hadn't heard of
It isn't a great lesson if it is not focused on Ss and thier learning
A little late to the party. I'm Nikk Morrow...inclusion teacher a Decatur MS in Indianapolis.
Diigo looks like a tool to check out. I'm seeing it mentioned more than once! https://t.co/bAwm9hgkIe https://t.co/GpsRyTputg
I'm a Diigo fan. It can give the teacher a peek into the student's reading process & chance to redirect https://t.co/Nm2ztgZK1q
I LOVE and to help with online annotations and saving online articles https://t.co/NWUPpycsAi
R3 Educators nee to ditch the digital immigrant visa and learn what tools exist-there are so many extensions to support readers
of course it must begin with Ss.
have to admit I'm a former user & then stopped. I should look into it again!
R4 So much to learn from, but at it's base, to me, it is the curation & self-exploration that helps build confidence for Ss
Huge Diigo fan. One of variety of tools I encourage Ss to use to annotate online sources & curate sources.
R4: Nothing is more beautiful than watching a S analyze their own progress! Dig Portfolios can assist!
GROWTH https://t.co/2FwoHc76nq
Q4 Dig. portfolios have become a popular tool in literacy classrooms. What can Ss, Ps, & Ts learn about Ss growth from these?
I like to introduce to several presentation tools so they can present their learning.
R4: Digital portfolios make our learning visible & provide opportunities to showcase & celebrate!
R4 Portfolios show progression of growth, but I think true growth occurs when reflection is the main piece of the pie.
. You won't regret going back to
What did you use as your online bookmarking tool afterwards?
R4 Dig. Port. are what make our room come alive! Ss love seeing their work, Ps become invested, and it's easy for the Ts!
BONUS question!! What are your favorite digital portfolio tools?
I have mine store artifacts in a Google folder they share with me.
Curation is what digital portfolios are all about! https://t.co/h8Pf1ibMYj
R4 So much to learn from, but at it's base, to me, it is the curation & self-exploration that helps build confidence for Ss
Seesaw is a great resource, we love it.
Yes! Don't pick a tool. Pick an outcome and let them pick the tool https://t.co/mYoOm323Rg
I like to introduce to several presentation tools so they can present their learning.
R4, 1 of 2: depending on length of evolution, there should be coord w/Univ. and corps for how the is in 'real-time'
When used right, a dig portfolio opens the door to student led conferences! Ss identify goals, recognize growth, determine goals
lots & lots of & a Google hyperdoc 😱
R4 anyone trying the new Google Sites for digital portfolios?
The new Google Sites would be an excellent portfolio tool. Also, Google Drawings with linked student work like a Thinglink!
R4 2 of 2: If it is not relevant when they leave, the Ss may be at a loss. If it evolves w/industry trends, then it is solid
Critical to keep the process of collecting simple so the artifacts and work quality are more important than the tool.
R4 the reflection on a students growth is invaluable, but also making connections between artifacts/projects/processes
. Sounds interesting! https://t.co/kpTRhM2U23
We would love to show it off to you if you have the time. A lot hidden behind the curtains!
my heart beams when I see Ss leading a room of adults and their S colleagues! Great call!
Q5 As we “ditch that textbook,” what digital resources provide Ss with common text that is both challenging and approachable?
We are working so hard on QUALITY over QUANTITY this yr. More isn't better...better is better! https://t.co/F0MRAvdVxS
Critical to keep the process of collecting simple so the artifacts and work quality are more important than the tool.
Big fan of for digital portfolios.
Time in classrooms and focused questions on Ss outcomes - if Ss are not learning, we are not teaching
& choice at its very best! https://t.co/9VLDVtaEAy
my heart beams when I see Ss leading a room of adults and their S colleagues! Great call!
R5: has provided me w/ great text to share w/ Ss.
A5: I think you can do a lot with Tumblr and digital portfolios, and youth already are super familiar with that site/app
Yes! Tools are irrelevant without quality reasons to be using them.
R4. All stakeholder get the same picture of the learning process. https://t.co/2FwoHc76nq
Q4 Dig. portfolios have become a popular tool in literacy classrooms. What can Ss, Ps, & Ts learn about Ss growth from these?
Love - thankful it's not fluff, thankful it's rigorous https://t.co/pDNvoYX2j9
R5: has provided me w/ great text to share w/ Ss.
A3: Use websites that offer lower lexile levels of the same text. Accessibility tools on the iPad (the Speech features)
I think is often overlooked for a resource like this. Dismissed as merely "social"
A3: Newsela is an awesome website for differentiating based on lexile levels in the middle school setting.
R5 For leveled reading, we used RazKids. We use for non-fiction. Love using QR codes for listening.
R5 is a great go-to for primary sources in all content areas.
The aesthetic is so right for today's youth culture. It just works, and they'll astound you w/ their pages https://t.co/IHYt2tkUPn
I think is often overlooked for a resource like this. Dismissed as merely "social"
Shout-out to all of the Tweeps posting Digital Reading Resources...
R5 MyOn, and are two resources provided to all learners and teachers!
We also teach research skills as we create portfolios. Fact vs. Fiction. Google is our students new library.
So thankful for because my son adores nonfiction!
Q6 Let’s talk assessment! How do you keep literacy assessment authentic in the areas of fluency and/or comprehension?
We facilitate change by example
R5. Anytime i can get Ss to create their own text/ content is my goal. https://t.co/e2KwEFQdOz
Q5 As we “ditch that textbook,” what digital resources provide Ss with common text that is both challenging and approachable?
the new Google sites is completely legit. So many great updates!
R5 While not a 'book', I have taught literacy and using Trip Advisor for reading reviews and posting experiences
R6 Turn the camera on the Ss. Let them hear themselves read and progress. No greater assessment. https://t.co/CHHeZx9bCl
Q6 Let’s talk assessment! How do you keep literacy assessment authentic in the areas of fluency and/or comprehension?
best answer to your own question...ever. https://t.co/GSAuU5iOt8
R6 Turn the camera on the Ss. Let them hear themselves read and progress. No greater assessment. https://t.co/CHHeZx9bCl
Q6 Let’s talk assessment! How do you keep literacy assessment authentic in the areas of fluency and/or comprehension?
Yes, like making 'Radio Reader' in the classroom!
R6 GREAT tool is the camera! Also rethink how you do assessment. Let kids create! Also changed how I assess!
R6 real world situations where comprehension can be assessed; maybe reading directions and completing a task
Love using the camera for assessment! Time saver, and Ss love it!
R5 we use MyOn, Pearson Leveled Texts, Reading AZ, Newsella, k5learning, and more-there is NO SHORTAGE of resources
A6: Have students self-record as they read...this is an awesome strategy when working on fluency, inflection and intonation.
R6, Assessing critical thinking &literacy is muting a doc of a class current class topic and having them provide the v/o copy
Also a great strategy for our ESL Ss. Have them record phrases they struggle w/ and practice daily. https://t.co/ory8rdXTVn
A6: Have students self-record as they read...this is an awesome strategy when working on fluency, inflection and intonation.
Q7 Wrapping up. Name one take-away from this discussion you feel will benefit your Ss this week?
R6 Allowing students to mashup their learning-take a new reading and associate images/music/etc
Sorry, have to leave a little early tonight -- thanks for pushing my thinking tonight chatters -- continue to be the change...
If you ever want to feel famous have students take notes by taking pictures with their phones. They don't lose them.
R7 I'm checking into Google Sites. I've been debating too long about dig. portfolios for my Ss. Just do it!
A7: Take the time to check out Diigo and Citelighter, thanks to the recs!
R6 Fluency wasnt something I dealt w/at 6-12, but Voicethread was powerful for students to hear their reading of their own writing
R7 Take-away, student empowerment, student empowerment, studentempowerment. Trust them w/good resources, they will make you proud
Like this content specific chat? Check out what's coming up in the series! 4th Thurs. line up! https://t.co/UZzzBsosQx
I'm going to blame a late summer cold for my sluggish responses tonight! It was great seeing new and familiar contributors!
Wow, . We rocked through those Qs tonight. This was a great chat. Thx to Melanie for lending her expertise as well!
A big thanks to our moderators for their new series! And a shoutout to my IDOE colleague for joining us
Inspring stuff crew. Thank you for educating me! Excellent emcees tonight as well.
best digital tool they're carrying with them daily.
thanks. Likewise on the insights. I could have liked everyone of your Tweets tonight. Looking forward to archiving